Sidney howe shoet



(No Model.)

S. H. SHORT.)

SLOT SWITCH FOR ELECTRICAL AND CABLE RAILWA'YS.

Patented Mar. 6, 1888.

N. PETERS. Phclo-Lilhngmphen Washington, D. Q

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' SIDNEY HOWVE SHORT, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNITED STATES ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF I SAME PLACE.

SLOT-SWITCH FOR ELECTRICAL AND CABLE RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,082, dated March 6, 1888.

Application filed March 24, 1887. Serial No. 232,287.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY HOWE SHORT, of Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Slot-Switches for Electrical and Cable Railways; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and we act description of the same.-

The object of this invention is to provide means for automatically switching a currentcollector or grip bar, which passes down through the slot of a conduit of an electrical or cable railway. Where a single track is used, with cars running in both directions thereon, it is necessary to have turnouts with track and slot switches to allow the cars to pass each other at certain places on the line. I have therefore devised a plan whereby the current-gatherer or grip-bar always passes to the right or left, depending on the construction of the switches, the cars being switched at the same time and in the same direction by any form of automatic track-switch.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents the top elevation of the conduit and switches. Fig. 2 shows the section of the double conduit after passing through the switch to the lefton linear xof Fig. 1. Fig.

3 shows the single conduit in section before 0 entering the switch on line 3 y, Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, S to S is a tangent slot in the top of cast-iron conduit and curves to the right with a tangent point near S. S is a curved slot in the same casting turning to theleft and having a tangent point at about m, where it enters the other slot,S S, the stationary tongue V between these two slots being supportedout to its point by the Web W. (Shown by the broken line y in Fig. 1 and more plainly in 0 Fig. 2.) Where the two slots converge a V- shaped opening is formed at? ,which is several times wider than the regular slot. A movable steel plate, L, is pivoted at the point of tangency m of the main line with the curve to swing 5 and slide on top the iron conduit and to almost cover the V-shaped opening referred to above, except a space in the middle of the tangent slot S S. This plate is held in its position by the spring N, which is fastened inside the conduitcasting at p p. This spring presses against the lug O, which passes down from the steel lid through the slotted hole in the top of the casting, as shown at H in dotted lines.

When a bar or current collector moves through the slot from right to left, it is simply guided through the slot- S to S and takes the right-hand curve. When, however, a bar is passed through the slot S from left to i'ight, it comes in contact with the steel plate at x, which is formed with an inclined edge. The plate is then moved against the springNuntil the bar can pass through the space provided for it and into the tangent slot at 3 After the passage of the bar or current-gatherer the plate will return toits normal position by rea- 6 son of the tension of the spring N, which cov ers the large V-shaped opening at y and prevents wheels or other objects from falling therein.

The whole structure is of one piece of castiron,strengthened and held together by means of the yokes a, a, and a", the conduit being lined in the bottom and on thesidcs with iron, as shown at bbb. When used in an electrical railway, the web W is covered on both sides with some insulating material,F F, to prevent the current-collector coming in contact with iron.

I clain1- 1. In a railway having slotted conduits of main and branch lines with the tangent points of the slots in different places, an automatic turn-out cover pivoted at the point of tangency of the main or straight line with the branch and extending toward thepoint between 8 the diverging lines of the slots, with its edge coincident throughout with the edge of the straight slot, so as to cover the V-shaped opening, said cover being inclined at its free end an, and having a spring and devices to limit its 0 movement, substantially as described.

2. In a railway having a slotted conduit and siding, the plate adapted to cover the V- shaped slot at the junction of the slots of the main track and siding, said plate having an inclined free end, as, and a spring, N, arranged underneath within the conduit and bearing upon a stud fixed to the plate and projecting down through a slot in the conduit, substan- In testimony whereof Ihaive signed my name tially as described. to this specification in the presence of two sub- 3. In combination, the conduit having the scribing witnessesstraight slot, the branch slot having its tangent 5 point. at m, the covering-plate pivoted at the SIDNEY HOWE SHORT.

tangent point and extending toward the point V, its edge being coincident with the straight Witnesses: edge of the main slot and having its free end RODNEY CURTIS, inclined, as at x, and crossing the branch slot, NM, N. BYERS. 10 substantially as described. 

